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Meet the OE-35: the largest wave energy boat, installed on Oahu. With 1,25 MW of power, it is a crucial step towards marine renewable energy, financed by the USA and Ireland
Ocean Energy has implemented its wave energy converter boat, the OE-35, from 826 tons, at the US Navy's wave energy test site, located off the coast of the island of Oahu. This installation was performed prior to connection to Hawaii's electrical grid.
The OE-35 measures 38 x 18 meters, with a draft of 9 meters. It was already a familiar sight in Kaneohe Bay on the windward side of Oahu. It was fixed north of the Mลkapu peninsula, which is home to a US Marine Corps base.
Projects and financing
The system was tested not only in Hawaii but also in Scotland as part of a $12 million project funded by the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. US Department of Energy and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). With a potential power of 1,25 MW, the OE-35 harnesses wave energy using a remarkable dual airflow system.
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Turbine technology
Some wave energy systems work by using passing waves to compress a column of air that drives a turbine as the wave passes and the air expands. However, these systems generally work like a piston engine, with a burst of power followed by a dead period while the air is vented and the system resets itself in anticipation of the next surge.
The OE-35 is different in that it uses a turbine that works on the Wells turbine principle, invented by Alan Arthur Wells of Queen's University Belfast in the late 1970s. This is a low-pressure air turbine that rotates continuously in one direction, regardless of the direction of airflow. In other words, as the wave compresses the air in three chambers inside the boya, the turbine spins. Then the air expands and the flow reverses, but the turbine continues to rotate in the same direction. This eliminates the need for complex mechanisms and valves to handle bidirectional airflow.
Efficiency and future
While it's not the most efficient way to generate power, as the turbine blades have a higher drag coefficient than conventional turbines and the system is prone to stagnation, it works well enough that the Ocean Energy Group Ireland subsidiary expects The OE-35 will soon be commissioned after final tests, and the system will be connected via a submarine cable to the state's electrical grid.
At 1,25 MW, it's not much compared to the state's energy consumption, but it could be a harbinger of things to come. โAfter more than a decade and a half of design, trials, testing and construction, we are excited to finally be able to take this huge step towards commercialization with our world-class OE-35 device,โ said Professor Tony Lewis, Chief Technology Officer from Ocean Energy. โThis internationally important project could not come online at a more critical time for the US and Ireland, as the world needs to accelerate the pace of decarbonization with new and innovative technologies.โ
The development of wave energy technologies represents a crucial step in the diversification of renewable energy sources, contributing to energy security and the reduction of carbon emissions. The OE-35, with its continuous generation capacity and adaptability to different ocean conditions, demonstrates the potential for innovative marine technologies to complement other renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.
Furthermore, the success of OE-35 could pave the way for the implementation of large-scale wave energy farms, with multiple devices operating simultaneously to provide stable and sustainable power to coastal communities and offshore operations. The international collaboration between the US and Ireland on this project highlights the importance of global cooperation in the search for sustainable energy solutions.
More information : https://oceanenergy.ie
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